AUTHOR=Grazioli Véronique S. , Tzartzas Konstantinos , Blaser Jérémie , Graells Madison , Schmutz Elodie , Petitgenet Isabelle , Favrat Bernard , Zozaya Javier Sanchis , Kokkinakis Ioannis , Marion-Veyron Regis , Bodenmann Patrick 

TITLE=Risk Perception Related to COVID-19 and Future Affective Responses Among Healthcare Workers in Switzerland: A Mixed-Methods Longitudinal Study

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 67 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604517

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2022.1604517

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Whereas early findings suggest that risk perceptions related to COVID-19 affect psychological well-being in healthcare workers (HCWs), the temporal associations between these variables need to be clarified and HCWs experience further explored. This study proposes a mixed evaluation of COVID-19 risk perception and affective responses among HCWs. 
A longitudinal mixed-method study was conducted. HCWs (N=138) completed measures of COVID-19 risk perceptions, depression, anxiety, burnout and secondary traumatic stress (STS) at baseline and 6 months later. A subsample (n=20) participated in semi-structured interviews exploring  risk perceptions and affective responses. 
Main quantitative findings showed positive associations between worry to contaminate others and depression (IRR = 1.04, p < .05), anxiety (IRR = 1.03, p < .01), STS (b = .3, p <.05), and perceptions of lacking protection (IRR = 1.04, p < .05) with anxiety scores. Four themes emerged from the analysis: life was turned upside down, skills were put in quarantine,  dealing with patient discomfort,  balance to be found between protection and restrictions.  
These findings emphasize the importance to develop interventions to optimize risk perception and help manage uncertainty.